ATI COMPREHENSIVE EXIT EXAM
WITH NGN EXAM 265 2026 2027
VERIFIED ANSWERS ACTUAL
UPDATED PRACTICE QUESTIONS
TEST BANK EXAM PREP MATERIAL
LATEST VERSION HIGH YIELD
STUDY MATERIAL GRADED A+
NURSING SUCCESS
265
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE
UPDATES 2026 .
Comprehensive Exam
,
, ATI COMPREHENSIVE2026 2027EXIT EXAM
WITH NGN EXAM VERIFIED QUESTIONS
AND S LATEST
1. Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment does the
nurse perform as a priority before administering the medication? A) Checking the client's blood
pressure
Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat
hypertension. One common side effect is postural hypotension. Therefore the nurse would check the
client’s blood pressure immediately before administering each dose. Checking the client’s peripheral
pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level, and the intake and output for the previous 24
hours are not specifically associated with this mediation.
2. A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse provides
instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further
instruction?
C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet
enema on the morning of the test." ."
Rationale: An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus, duodenum, and upper jejunum
by means of the use of a contrast medium. It involves swallowing a contrast medium (usually
barium), which is administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are taken at intervals during the test,
which takes about 30 minutes. No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except that
NPO status must be maintained for 8 hours before the test. After an upper GI series, the client is
prescribed a laxative to hasten elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may
become hard and difficult to expel, leading to fecal impaction.
3.A nurse on the evening shift checks a physician's prescriptions and notes that the dose of a
prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the physician's
answering service and is told that the physician is off for the night and will be available in the
morning. The nurse should:
,
,ATI COMPREHENSIVE2026 2027EXIT EXAM
WITH
NGN EXAM 265 VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES LATEST
B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A nurse who believes that a
physician’s prescription may be in error is responsible for clarifying the prescription before carrying it
out. Therefore the nurse would not administer the medication; instead, the nurse would withhold the
medication until the dose can be clarified. The nurse would not wait until the next morning to obtain
clarification. It is premature to call the nursing supervisor.
4. An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected acute myocardial infarction
(MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensive care unit. The nurse notes the sudden onset of
premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's carotid pulse, and determines
that the PVCs are not resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by the nurse is:
B) Asking the ED physician to check the client
,
, ATI COMPREHENSIVE2026 2027EXIT EXAM
WITH
NGN EXAM 265 VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES LATEST
Rationale: PVCs are a result of increased irritability of ventricular cells. Peripheral pulses may be
absent or diminished with the PVCs themselves because the decreased stroke volume of the
premature beats may in turn decrease peripheral perfusion. Because other rhythms also cause
widened QRS complexes, it is essential that the nurse determine whether the premature beats are
resulting in perfusion of the extremities. This is done by palpating the carotid, brachial, or femoral
artery while observing the monitor for widened complexes or by auscultating for apical heart sounds.
In the situation of acute MI, PVCs may be considered warning dysrhythmias, possibly heralding the
onset of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Therefore the nurse would not tell the client
that the PVCs are expected. Although the nurse will continue to monitor the client and document the
findings, these are not the most appropriate actions of those provided. The most appropriate action
would be to ask the ED physician to check the client.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use the process of elimination. Recalling the significance of PVCs after acute
MI and noting the strategic words "not perfusing" will direct you to the correct option. Review the
significance of PVCs after acute MI if you had difficulty with this question.
5.
NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure, the nurse checks
the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral antihypertensive
medication each morning. The nurse should:
A) Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
Rationale: General anesthesia is required for ECT, so NPO status is imposed for 6 to 8 hours before treatment
to help prevent aspiration. Exceptions include clients who routinely receive cardiac medications,
antihypertensive agents, or histamine (H2) blockers, which should be administered several hours before
treatment with a small sip of water. The nurse would not administer a medication by way of a route
that has not been prescribed.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use the process of elimination. Use your knowledge of the principles of
medication administration to help eliminate the option that involves administering the medication by
way of a route other than the prescribed one. Recalling that antihypertensives must be administered
,
WITH NGN EXAM 265 2026 2027
VERIFIED ANSWERS ACTUAL
UPDATED PRACTICE QUESTIONS
TEST BANK EXAM PREP MATERIAL
LATEST VERSION HIGH YIELD
STUDY MATERIAL GRADED A+
NURSING SUCCESS
265
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE
UPDATES 2026 .
Comprehensive Exam
,
, ATI COMPREHENSIVE2026 2027EXIT EXAM
WITH NGN EXAM VERIFIED QUESTIONS
AND S LATEST
1. Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment does the
nurse perform as a priority before administering the medication? A) Checking the client's blood
pressure
Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat
hypertension. One common side effect is postural hypotension. Therefore the nurse would check the
client’s blood pressure immediately before administering each dose. Checking the client’s peripheral
pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level, and the intake and output for the previous 24
hours are not specifically associated with this mediation.
2. A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse provides
instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further
instruction?
C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet
enema on the morning of the test." ."
Rationale: An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus, duodenum, and upper jejunum
by means of the use of a contrast medium. It involves swallowing a contrast medium (usually
barium), which is administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are taken at intervals during the test,
which takes about 30 minutes. No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except that
NPO status must be maintained for 8 hours before the test. After an upper GI series, the client is
prescribed a laxative to hasten elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may
become hard and difficult to expel, leading to fecal impaction.
3.A nurse on the evening shift checks a physician's prescriptions and notes that the dose of a
prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the physician's
answering service and is told that the physician is off for the night and will be available in the
morning. The nurse should:
,
,ATI COMPREHENSIVE2026 2027EXIT EXAM
WITH
NGN EXAM 265 VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES LATEST
B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A nurse who believes that a
physician’s prescription may be in error is responsible for clarifying the prescription before carrying it
out. Therefore the nurse would not administer the medication; instead, the nurse would withhold the
medication until the dose can be clarified. The nurse would not wait until the next morning to obtain
clarification. It is premature to call the nursing supervisor.
4. An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected acute myocardial infarction
(MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensive care unit. The nurse notes the sudden onset of
premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's carotid pulse, and determines
that the PVCs are not resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by the nurse is:
B) Asking the ED physician to check the client
,
, ATI COMPREHENSIVE2026 2027EXIT EXAM
WITH
NGN EXAM 265 VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES LATEST
Rationale: PVCs are a result of increased irritability of ventricular cells. Peripheral pulses may be
absent or diminished with the PVCs themselves because the decreased stroke volume of the
premature beats may in turn decrease peripheral perfusion. Because other rhythms also cause
widened QRS complexes, it is essential that the nurse determine whether the premature beats are
resulting in perfusion of the extremities. This is done by palpating the carotid, brachial, or femoral
artery while observing the monitor for widened complexes or by auscultating for apical heart sounds.
In the situation of acute MI, PVCs may be considered warning dysrhythmias, possibly heralding the
onset of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Therefore the nurse would not tell the client
that the PVCs are expected. Although the nurse will continue to monitor the client and document the
findings, these are not the most appropriate actions of those provided. The most appropriate action
would be to ask the ED physician to check the client.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use the process of elimination. Recalling the significance of PVCs after acute
MI and noting the strategic words "not perfusing" will direct you to the correct option. Review the
significance of PVCs after acute MI if you had difficulty with this question.
5.
NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure, the nurse checks
the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral antihypertensive
medication each morning. The nurse should:
A) Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
Rationale: General anesthesia is required for ECT, so NPO status is imposed for 6 to 8 hours before treatment
to help prevent aspiration. Exceptions include clients who routinely receive cardiac medications,
antihypertensive agents, or histamine (H2) blockers, which should be administered several hours before
treatment with a small sip of water. The nurse would not administer a medication by way of a route
that has not been prescribed.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use the process of elimination. Use your knowledge of the principles of
medication administration to help eliminate the option that involves administering the medication by
way of a route other than the prescribed one. Recalling that antihypertensives must be administered
,
